What Family Means

Inspired by the song Where Are You Now by Honor Society

Plot: Lore kidnaps Geordi, Riker, and Worf to lure Data to him. I own nothing.

"What are they to you?" Lore asked in confusion, the phaser he stole from Data at his side.

Data looked away for a moment, considering what his brother meant. Then he looked Lore in the eye. "They are my family."

Lore sneered. "Family? I am your family! I'm your brother!"

Data raised his eyebrows in a way that could be considered a habit for him. "That is true. You are my brother. However… Geordi, Counselor Troi, Doctor Crusher, Captain Picard, Worf, Commander Riker, even Wesley and Tasha - they are also my family. Family is not always about DNA.

Now, where have you taken them?"

Lore scoffed. "And yet you talk as if you are not your family but your superiors!"

Data nodded slightly. "Some of them are. It should not matter what I call them - we still care for each other greatly. And we would help each other no matter what… Now where-"

"I hate to point this out to you brother, but you don't posses an emotion chip. You can't care for them like they 'care' for you. Shouldn't you be more loyal to your real family?"

"I know that I would do anything to keep them safe. And if that is the closest I can get to feeling, then I believe I have achieved that."

Lore sneered again and raised his stolen phaser. "If you are so foolish as to pick them over me, then have it your way, brother."

Data's eyes widened as Lore charged his weapon.

Suddenly, a red beam - another phaser - shot Lore's hand, making him drop his weapon. Data quickly grabbed it and pointed it at Lore, who was clutching his injured hand.

"Data!"

Data looked to his left to see Geordi, his phaser raised. Behind him ran in Riker and Worf at the ready.

"Data, are you alright?" Riker asked, forehead creased in worry.

"I am alright, Commander." He said calmly, weapon still aimed at Lore.

"Lore," Worf started, walking forward. "You are hereby taken into custody for the kidnapping and intentional mistreatment of Starfleet officers."

Later in Ten Forward…

Data watched the Enterprise crew around him as they laughed and smiled, enjoying themselves after a tiring day.

He was thinking of when he decided these people were his family.

Geordi, the brainiac best friend and step-brother.

Wesley, the annoying but lovable cousin.

Doctor Crusher, the smart and protective Aunt.

Counselor Troi, the advice giving sister-in-law. Always willing to help.

Commander Riker, the hot shot big brother off at collage.

Captain Picard, the mentor and sort of uncle.

Worf, that one cousin you almost never see but who is still protective and willing to help you.

And Tasha, the maybe girlfriend. Strong, clever, and powerful friend.

Q… well, he supposed Q was the annoying neighbor.

Data walked into his room and headed for his desk, only to be stopped at a "Meow."

…and Spot, of course. He picked up Spot and put him on the consul, petting his ears as he purred. "You may stay up here this one time, Spot."

And Spot, the trouble making, lovable house cat. Always happy to see his master safe, though he remembered Geordi teasing that their roles being switched.

This, Thought Data. is what it means to have a family. Not blood, DNA, or the same parents, but caring for each other.